Lucius lay on his bed, though it barely qualified as one, and counted the bricks on the opposite wall. Again. If he didn't end up dying from old age in this gods-forsaken place, he was sure the boredom would be what killed him. Some days he wished it would just hurry up and do so. Decidedly un-Slytherin-like thinking, that was, but he wasn't so sure he cared any longer. He was jolted from his maudlin thinking by the sound of a guard approaching his cell door.
"Malfoy, we've just gotten word that your wife is in Saint Mungo's."
At that moment, he felt his heart drop into his stomach and a feeling of dread overtook his body.
"And, what, you decided to come and taunt me with this information? I assure you, the dreadful conditions here are more than enough in the ways of torture."
The guard let out a chuckle at his words, and it made Lucius want to kill him where he stood.
"I have better things to do then to torture prisoners, Malfoy. I'm here to escort you to the boat dock. You're being released."
This caused Lucius to shoot straight up from his bed, a look of shock clearly written on his normally blank face.
"Surely you jest."
"Nope, your release orders followed directly after the news about your wife. Apparently, Mr. Potter put a rush on everything, claiming you were innocent and needed to be released right away."
"My wife. Is she... is she severely injured?"
"I have no word on the nature of her injuries, Malfoy. If you'll get moving, you can go see for yourself."
He followed the guard out of his cell, hoping it would be the last time he ever had to step foot in it. His mind was a mess as he wondered (and worried) what happened to Hermione and what happened that the truth finally came to light. Two thoughts were very clear, however. He needed to know about his wife's health and the fact that Ronald and Ginevra Weasley should be very, very afraid.
Hermione groaned softly as she regained consciousness. Her head was pounding, and she felt as if she had been run over by a freight train. What in Merlin's name had happened to her? She reluctantly opened her eyes and almost began to panic when she didn't recognize her surroundings. However, within a blink of an eye, it all came rushing back to her.
Ronald.
He had better hope that he was locked up securely with his bitch of a sister. She wanted nothing more than to turn her wand on them both until they ended up in the Janus Thickey ward. Her wandering thoughts of revenge were interrupted when the door to her private room was opened and Draco walked in, looking ragged. As soon as their eyes met, he rushed over to her bedside.
"Hermione! Thank Salazar you are awake! How do you feel?"
"Like I got into a fight with a battering ram. Draco, is everything... is the baby... okay?"
"Let me go find a healer, they'll want to know you are awake. Or you should wait for –"
"Draco, no! I need to know, now. Please."
She never thought she would see the day where Draco Malfoy squirmed, but that was what he was currently doing. He looked so nervous that she was afraid he was going to run from the room.
"Ummm, the healers told me that everything was... okay... down there. Something about a popped blood vessel in your... right."
Even feeling as bad as she did, she had to laugh at him as two spots of color appeared on his cheeks. She reached out to take his hand and gave it a bit of a squeeze. Her other hand went to rest on her stomach.
"Thank gods everything is okay. I'm not sure what I would have done if..." she trailed off, not even wanting to speak the words. "How long was I out?"
"It's been about two days, but Hermione, there's something about your pregnancy you need to know and a few other things besides that."
"What? But you just said everything was fine!"
"It is, I promise. I just... I'm not sure if I should tell you. We should wait for – " he tried to tell her again.
"We will wait for no one, Draco Malfoy! You will tell me right this minute!"
"When the healers were treating you, they did multiple scans and found that you're having twins," he said, rushing the words out.
Well. That wasn't exactly what she had been expecting, but she was thrilled. She never thought she would be able to have one baby, let alone two.
"That's fantastic! Oh, I'm so excited! Did the healers tell you when I can get out of here? And where's Harry? Merlin, did Ron confess? Draco! It was mostly Ginny; you have to go tell Harry right now before she gets away!" she said frantically, sitting straight up in her bed, ready to jump out.
"Calm down, Hermione. Everything is fine. That stupid Weasel spilled his guts as soon as Potter started in on him. They are both sitting in Azkaban. For now."
Breathing out a relieved sigh, she slumped back down onto the bed.
"Hermione, you should know that –"
Whatever Draco was about to tell her was cut off by the sound of the door opening. She turned her head towards the sound, expecting to see Harry or a Healer. She was not, however, expecting to see her husband walk through the door, only to stop short at seeing her awake. The pair stared at each other in silence for a moment, each so intent on the other than neither noticed Draco leaving the room.
"Hermione..."
His voice sounded raspy from disuse, and yet there was an underlying tone to it. Remorse, perhaps?
"Lucius."
Her speaking his name caused his face to brighten, and he approached her bed slowly.
"Stop. Stop right there, Lucius. Why are you even here? You don't love me, remember? You never did, according to you. What was it, you just needed a wife to help your standing?"
"Hermione, please. Just let me –"
"No! I will not 'just let you' anything. Get out."
"Please, just let me explain."
"I thought Malfoys didn't beg, Lucius. It's most unbecoming of you. Now do as I say and leave, as I do not wish to be in your presence any longer."
Instead of heeding her words, he stepped closer to her, and she lost it. She picked up the candle-lit lamp that sat by her bedside and threw it at his head as she yelled, "Get out!"
Apparently that got through his thick skull, and he turned to make his way to the door. Glancing back at her once more, a shattered expression upon his aristocratic face, he opened the door and left. The door shut with a soft click and as soon as it did, her hands went up to her face as she started crying. It was all too much, too stressful. It killed her to throw Lucius out when all she really wanted to do was run straight into his arms. He may not love her, but gods damn it, she still loved him.
AN: Thanks to erbkaiser for betaing. Also thanks to Liza and Raybe for their help.
I'm hoping you all picked up on Draco's comment about Ron and Ginny. *insert evil laugh here*
Please review!
